Micronutrients as silicated oxydes and sterile spikelets in wheat on holm soils

Abstract

Occurrence of sterile spikelets in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) was determined during 1979 and 1980 at the Experimental Station of Lorena, SP, on holm soils. Application of micronutrients B, Fe, Mo, Mn, Cu and Zn as silicated oxydes (fritted trace elements - FTE) caused lower spikelet sterility and substantially greater yield in late maturity cultivars than in early cultivars. The occurrence of sterile spikelets was correlated with low relative humidity during the cultivar flowering stage. IAC-13 (Lorena) showed the best performance for grain yield.